Oregon-Arizona preview: All signs point to another wild contest between Ducks and Wildcats

View full sizeThomas Boyd/The OregonianUniversity of Arizona head coach, Mike Stoops shows his emotions after a call doesn't go his way against the University of Oregon at Autzen Stadium on Nov. 26, 2010, in Eugene.

No. 10 Oregon at Arizona

Time: 7:15 p.m.

Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson

Records: Ducks (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12), Wildcats (1-2, 0-1)

Latest line: Oregon by 16

On air: TV on ESPN2, radio on KXTG 750

What's
at stake: For Oregon, with all respect to Nevada and Missouri State,
this would be its strongest victory since the 2010 Civil War. It's also a
minor measuring stick in the race against Stanford for supremacy in the
Pac-12 North Division. The Cardinal last Saturday won 37-10 at Arizona.

UO offense vs. Arizona defense: Arizona's run defense has been
almost nonexistent this season and there's little reason to believe that
will change tonight. The Ducks ran up and down the field against
Arizona last year, racking up 537 yards of offense during a 48-29 win at
Autzen Stadium. Granted, this team is slightly different but after two
weeks of fine-tuning the offense against lesser opponents, Oregon could
be ready to resume its offensive dominance of the recent past against
BCS conference opponents. Arizona has allowed 173 rushing yards per game
this season on 5.0 yards per carry. Oklahoma State averaged 6.4 yards
per carry while gaining 197 in its 37-14 win over the Wildcats. Stanford
averaged 6.2 while rushing for 242.

UO defense vs. Arizona offense:
Maybe no offense has given the Ducks more trouble over the past two
seasons than Arizona's. The Wildcats have amassed 960 yards of total
offense, 50 first downs and 70 points in two wild games. Quarterback
Nick Foles has accounted for much of that production, passing for 762
yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions. However, that
strategy falls right into the Ducks' hands. Granted, no team wants to
get ripped apart through the air. But throwing so often (100 attempts in
two games) lengthens the game, giving Oregon's offense ample
opportunity to get rolling. And when that happens, few teams can keep
pace. The recipe for slowing Oregon is controlling the ball via the
running game to burn the game clock and keep the Ducks' offense off the
field as much as possible. Unfortunately for Arizona, it is averaging
just 55.7 yards rushing per game this season on 2.6 yards per carry. The
Wildcats gained 58 yards on the ground at Oregon last season.

Individual
matchup to watch: Arizona wide receiver Juron Criner vs. Oregon
cornerback Cliff Harris. The Ducks have not come close to slowing down
Criner in two previous meetings. He has caught eight passes for 201
yards and five touchdowns in two games. Last year he burned Harris for a
deep touchdown. Harris has been working his way out of coach Chip
Kelly's doghouse following a one-game suspension and this could be the
first game when his pass coverage skills will truly come in handy.

They said
it: "Every team comes to play every week (in the Pac-12). You're going
to see guys playing hard every play. The last couple of weeks, once you
get up on guys on the last two teams, they don't go as hard. Now in the
Pac-12, everyone is going to bring it every play and you have to be
ready." -- Oregon left guard Carson York.